Illman: How I'll play Saratoga for Sunday, Aug. 7

Sunday's Saratoga card features the $100,000 Alydar Stakes at nine furlongs. Let’s take a crack at that field as well as a couple of other intriguing races.

Race 9

FAR FROM OVER (2) is undefeated from three starts for Todd Pletcher and showed no rust off a gigantic layoff in his seasonal debut at Belmont, but I want to see him back that race up in his first appearance at 1 1/8 miles against better horses. I wonder if he’s an underlay at something-to-five on the tote.

Instead, I like TOUCHOFSTARQUALITY (4). This 6-year-old was gelded over the winter and has come back firing in his two starts of 2016. He popped a 100 Beyer following eight months on the sidelines when handling next-out Brooklyn winner Shaman Ghost, and then backed that race up with another triple-digit effort behind Comfort, who returned to finish second to Frosted in Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney.

Touchofstarquality was traveling comfortably entering the stretch of that most recent race, and it took a promising horse in Comfort to run him down. He should be forwardly placed once again, has winning experience at the nine-furlong trip, and is worth a win play at 7-2 odds or greater. I’ll use him with Far From Over in multiple-race wagers like the late pick four, and will play him with Far From Over and MYLUTE (8) in single-race exotics.

Race 6

One must respect Pletcher’s 2-year-old debutante CHERRY LODGE (4). A $450,000 half-sister to Grade 1-winning juvenile Stormello, Cherry Lodge shows some excellent workouts leading up to her coming-out party. She seems a must-use in multiple-race wagers, but I have a strong feeling that she is going to take all the money from a win standpoint.

IN IT FOR THE GOLD (5) has the experience edge on Cherry Lodge, and she reached this race’s 74 Beyer par when a green third in her debut last month at Belmont. She didn’t seem to appreciate the kick-back in the early portion of the race, but was more comfortable when maneuvered to the outside on the turn. Still green when wandering to the inside in the stretch, she finished with some interest and it will be interesting to see if she can build on the run for Rudy Rodriguez.

I’ll bet In It for the Gold to Win at 9-2 odds or greater, but am more interested in using her with Cherry Lodge in multiple-race wagers, and with Cherry Lodge, TICKETY BOO (1), and GO GLAM (10) in single-race bets.

Race 8

FOURSTAR CROOK (9) appears the most-likely winner on paper. She has taken three in a row for the red-hot Chad Brown, boasts excellent tactical speed, and doesn’t face the strongest entry-level allowance bunch in the world.

I don’t want to have too much money in against Fourstar Crook, but will take a small stab with MIGHTY SOUPER (10), a Mark Casse-trained daughter of War Front who is making her return from a long layoff. Mighty Souper hinted at some promise as a 3-year-old, shows some quick workouts for her return, and can come with a strong late run in the lane.

I’ll bet Mighty Souper to win at 5-1 or better and will use in exotics with Fourstar Crook and European invader MONTALCINO (5)

Good luck!